Tennis-racket.



No. 840,467. PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907.

' S. H.:BEARD.

TENNIS RAGKET.

APPLIUATION FILED mmzs. 190s.

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rug nomals PETERS c'u, WASHINGTON, vc.

- end to end, or diagonally,

SIDNEY- HARTNOLIJ BEARD, or PAIGNTON, ENGLAND.

TENNIS-RACKET.

I No. 840,467.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 8, 1907.

Application filed June 5, 1906. Serial. No. 820,309.

Tennis-rackets depend for their efficiency ,upon the rigidity with which they are strung and upon the unyielding resistance of the string-surface to the impact of the tennisball. Tennis-rackets which are strung with gut string (the material now generally used in their manufacture) soon loose their rigidity, become yielding,- and inefficient in consequence of the tendency of the gut strings to stretch slightly. Gut strings also often break as aresult of the strain put upon them when the tennis-balls are struck with the racket. It has been proposed to string tennis-rackets with thin metal wire, but, however, with only unsatisfactory results.

Now the object of my improvements is to provide a simple and efiicient construction of tennis -rackets strung with the usual gut strings, whereby such rackets are caused to remain rigid and also be durable, neither frequently breaking nor requiring restringmg,

as is the case with rackets as heretofore constructed. My improvements consist in the introduction of anumber of rigid inextensible metal rods extending across racket where the strain comeswhen the ball is struck. These metal rods, which are preferably made of steel, are situated in theoentral plane of the racket and may extend across the racket from side to side or from according to the strength and rigidity required. The metal rods are passed one over the other or through the usual gut strings and are fastened on either side of the frame of the racketby means of heads and washers and of terminal screw-nuts, clenched ends, or other means.

Thus a rigid, durable, and almost. unbreakable tennis-racket is made.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

those parts of the Figure 1 is a face view of a tennis-racket, partly in section; and Fig. 2 is a side view, also partly in section. 1 is the woodenframeof the racket ,strungin the usual manner with ordinary gut strings 2. 3 represents are rigid inextensible metal rods, preferably of steel. They extend in the central plane of the racket from end to end of the same. Each rod is formedwith a head 4. atone end and with a screw-threaded extremity 5 at the other and is inserted in lace through holes formed in the frame 0 the racket.

6 is an internally-screw-threaded sleevenut adapted to be screwed upon the screwthreaded end 5 of each rod.

7 is a faceted collar formed on the sleeve. It serves to enable the sleeve to be screwed up and also as a stop for thesame. The hole in the frame is widened to receive the sleeve.

Each rod 3 is suitably bent at a greater or less angle at its headedend to suit the curvature of the frame at its respective place of insertion, where a washer Sis employed to provide an unyielding bearing.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

v 1. In a gut-strung tennis-racket, the combination with the gut strings, of rigid inextensible metal rods extending across the racket approximately in the central plane thereof, and means for retaining said rods in place, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

bination with the gut strings, of rigid inextensible metal rods extending across the racket approximately in the central plane thereof, said rods being headed at one end and screw-threaded at the other end, with sleeve-nuts engaging the screw-threaded ends of said rods, substantially as shown for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

sinner HARTNOLL BEARD.

Witnesses:

L. A. SUTTON, Fnnnx. L. RAND.

2. In a gut-strung tennis-racket, the com- 

